National Republican., 1887-01-22
VOICE OF INDEPENDENCE.
Gen. j. A. walker Tells the Demo-
Gratis Some Truths-A New Debt Set
tIemsnt Demanded.

tIement Demanded.
The following letter from Gen. James A.
Walker, Of Pulaski, published in the Wythe-
vile Enterprise, explains itself
| WYTHEviLLE, VA, Jan. 9, 1SS7.--EDI.
TORS ENTERPRISE; Your favor, calling my
attention to an article in the Alexandria
| Gdseue written by its Washington CORE
/ spOndent, has Just been handed me. The
| iasctteS correspondent does me more
| honor than desire in supposing that my
| view, or political status, can be OF any i'm.
| portance, but since he has brought my
name before the public, and because there
are some inaccuracies in the letter which
desire to correct, avail myself Of the op.
portunity offered by your letter to set my
self right before my friends.
The Gdzettc's correspondent errs In say
ing that voted for Col. Bowen, the Repub'
lican candidate for Congress In this district
! last fall.
voted for neither of the candidates in
that election, but acted with the four thou
sand Democratic voters In the ninth district
who were conspicuous by their absence
from the polls and in that manner ex-
pressed their disapproval Of the course of
the Democratic party and Its candidates.
Nor Is II correct that in Lynchburg de-
clared publicly my 'intense dissatisfaction,
not to say contempt, OF modern pemoc-
| racy.h
That expressed the dissatisfaction which
| felt is true, but far be 1t from me TO ex-
press contempt for a great party, OF which
its leaders may well be proud-the party
which enrolls among its leaders to day
some OF the best intellects and purest men
in the nation, and with which j have acted,
and whose battles l have helped to fight
fiom my boyhood.
1t has my best wishes, and / have grieved
over what i conceive to be Its mistakes, In
| sorrow, but not In anger.
Allow me to correct another error into
which the author OF the letter has fallen
when he says "Tbere Is some speculation
| TO the effect that, connected with Gen.
Walkers change, are aspirations which he
cherlshes Of some day representing Bowen's
district in Congress"
NOT AN AsPIRANT.
1t is well known to my friends In this dis
trict that am not an asplraut for Congress,
and have declined to permit my name to be
used In connection with that office for eight
| years ITO be a representative OF the peo-
pie in the Congress Of the United States is
| an honor well worthy of the ambition OF
any citizen. But for private reasons
could not consent, under any circum-
stances, to be- candidate for that position.
And, Mr.. Editor, will you allow me to
add that am not an aspirant for any office.
1 IL
zen, can help the right and defeat the
wrong, will always cheerfully give what
ever aid can to those with whom | act
willing that others may reap the reward OF
place and Office
THE DEBT QUESTION.
am not IN sympathy with the Demo-
cratic party OF Virginia at present on the
debt question. Once 1t was lhe "debt pay
ing party,n as IL called itself; the 'funder
party" as called by its opponents. 1t de-
nounced the settlement proposed by the
| Riddlebergrr bill as unconstitutional and
uniust-ss ~, II repudiation of ten millions
of our just debt
Having been beaten before the people
| they agreed to accept that measure, and
| give 1t a fair trial.
That 1t was unconstitutional and would
never be sustained by the courts was be-
| lieyed and argued from the hustlngs by all
| the leading Democratic speakers--and the
result has proved they were right.
GRAVE MISTAKE.
One Of the worst mistakes the party ever
made was to adopt the financial measure
they had previously denounced as unwise,
unjust to the creditors, and unconstitu-
tional as an article OF party faith, and then
pledge themselves to carry out In good
| faith what they neither approved OF as just
nor acquiesced in as practical.
The Rlddleberger settlement having failed
| to settle the debt, las all sound thinking
men knew it would); having been pro.
nounced unconstitutional by the courts OF
last resort, good faith, party tactics. and
partsanism all required that the measure
should be abandoned by the party.
NEW SETTLEMENT DEMANDED.
Having kept faith by giving it fair trial,
we should have sought new terms OF settle
ment with our creditors, and one which
they would be willing to accept. Instead
of this the party has tied itself to the fate of
the Rlddleberger bill, and clings to its dead
carcass as II it were "ilesh Of its flesh and
bone Of its bone"
REPUTATION.
For the sake Of this cuckoo's egg-the
party from its proud position as the ''debt
payers'n party-from It's loud boast Of being
tho party To uphold the plighted faith and
public credit of the state, has allowed itself
to drift insenslbly into the channel Of repu-
diation, aud prominent Democratic states
men, and leading Democratic journals,
threaten the creditors with the alternative
OF accepting the so-called Riddleberger set
tlement or downright reputation. And
this, too, comes from Democrats, who, ten
years ago, would have held such language
to be treason to party faith. But repudi-
alton
Isa monster of such hideous mien
As to be hated needs but to be seen;
Yet seen too oft, familiar with its face,
we first endure then pity-then embrace.
Can any one doubt where this policy of
nullifying the decisions Of our courts and
setting at defiance the laws of the land will
leadY There is but one destination, and
that is reputation OF the state debt, and
the total destruction Of the credit Of her
citizens at home and abroad
The last general assembly OF Virginia, In
its desire to carry out the Riddleberger
bill, passed every measure to effect its
purpose which suggested itself to its mem
bers, but they have all been found INSULT
cient, not from any want Of skill or wis.
dom In that body, but from impossibilities
they attempted to accomplish.
THE sANCITY OF THE LAW.
, Having failed before the law l am In favor
Of accepting the law as expounded by the
courts Of last resort, and yielding obedience
, in good faith to their mandates, for the all
sufficient reason that 1t is the law, and law
is the foundation on which rests the whole
social fabric. To destroy the law is to de.
stroy property liberty, and all civil rights.
1t is dangerous for political party to
, teach contempt for and encourage dis
obedience to law. 1t invites mobocracy
and anarchy.
For these reasons am In favor of accept
ing the decisions OF the courts as conclusive
, of the question that "coupons are receivable
in payment OF ali debts, taxes, and demands
, due the staten-and receiving them In good
faith-and OF abIogating the Riddleberger
bill, and efTectiDg such a settlement with
, the creditors as will be acceptable to them.
1T CAN BE SETTLED.
That just aud fair settlement can he made
with them we are assured by the best au-
, thority. Let us make that settlement and
cease TO coquet with reputation before we
fall In love with her seductive form.
, PROTECTION.
/ The correspondent OF the Gdsette sayt
| that am a "protectionist." This is true
Il nlI,lnI I'm